Ready to Serve You

doing whatever it takes to earn your business

Leadership

Stephen Gates, CEO and Co-President

Steve has 31 years of financial services experience. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Occidental College in 1982. His career started as a stock broker, retailing securities and life insurance for Newhard Cook and Company, a NYSE firm. At SunLife (later SunAmerica), Steve earned his stripes in a startup division dedicated to distributing insurance products through banks. With this expertise, Steve founded Clarke Financial Group in 1992. He is the driving force behind the development of top proprietary fixed annuity products in the industry, as well as AnnuityNetTM, AssureXPress TM, and Advisor360, tools designed to maximize advisor productivity. Steve carries FINRA Series 7, 8, and 63 licenses and is a Life & Health insurance representative in the state of California. An avid sportsman, he enjoys an active life with his wife and three children. Clarke Financial Group and the Gates family actively support the mission of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

Michael Denton, COO and Co-President

Michael shares Clarke’s leadership responsibilities with Steve. Michael’s 25 year career in financial services began with the founding of his own multi-state insurance and securities marketing firm. He went on to become president of Laughlin Retail Services (Laughlin Group of Companies) where he managed the broker dealer channel. Laughlin Group became the largest independent distributor for the bank marketplace of GICs, mutual funds, and annuities, producing over $2 billion a year in sales. In 1996, he was involved in the successful purchase of Laughlin Group by Allstate Life Insurance. Before joining Clarke in 2004, he worked for Jefferson Pilot Financial as a senior vice president, developing the Financial Institution Marketing Division, which grew to become a top 10 provider of fixed annuities in the bank marketplace. He carries FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses and is a Life & Health insurance representative in the state of Oregon. Michael is happily married and has three children. He works out of a satellite office because he loves fishing and the natural beauty of the Northwest.

Clarke in the Field

Clarke has regional vice presidents who serve the continental United States in four territories: Eastern, Central, Midwest, and Western. All of these individuals carry FINRA securities licenses and are Life & Health insurance representatives in key states within their territory. Our RVPs are available to provide product and sales training, create illustrations, demonstrate how to use AnnuityNetTM, AssureXPressTM, and Advisor360, and meet with producers of the banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, and producer groups we serve. To learn more about our Lead RVPs, please log in with your designated password.

Our Home Office Team

Our home office is located in Irvine, California, and staffed with a growing team of experienced individuals. They are dedicated to providing superior support. Our operations manager leads a team of case management and resolution specialists. Our relationship managers support the work of our outside wholesaling team. To learn more about the staff that support your annuity, long-term care, or life product program, log in with your designated password. To learn about working with us, view Clarke Careers.

Introducing Advisor360

Access to Your Online Dashboard When and Where You Need It

Testimonials

Richard Lane

The Standard Insurance Company
Bellevue, Washington
“Clarke Financial Group is consistently one of The Standard top independent marketing organization, I view them as the closest thing Standard has to a captive partner. We’ve worked with Michael Denton and Steve Gates for the past 10 years — as long as I’ve been with Standard. Not only does Clarke know our business in some respects better than we do, they helped shape and mold our fixed annuity product line from A to Z. Clarke breathes life into Standard, because of its great tenure, industry knowledge, and connections throughout the bank and broker dealer world.”

Lynne Phillips

Director, Director, Licensed Bankers and FMS Insurance
Synovus Securities, Inc.
Columbus, Georgia
“With 27 years in financial services and 14 years spent at Synovus, I value and appreciate our 10 year relationship with Clarke Financial Group. Ron Tuerk, our External Wholesaler, has excellent product knowledge. He works directly in the field with our agents every week. Naomi Whitmer, Clarke’s Operations Manager, provides me with fast and efficient responses. Most importantly, Clarke’s online account application process is the best I have seen. The Advisor360 Dashboard with AnnuityXpress results in less NIGOs and is a huge plus to our licensed brokers.”

Gary Campbell

CEO & Chairman
Financial Advocates
Olympia, Washington
“Business has to be a win-win situation, and with Clarke it is. I’ve worked in financial services since 1987, and with Clarke for the past ten years. The relationship works, because everyone from leadership to wholesaler understands our bank, credit union and advisor relationships. Clarke offers more than product. The wholesaler presence is everywhere, all the time — meeting with advisors, attending our conferences, conducting training — making business easy. ”

Connie Knox

President Investment Services
Wescom Credit Union
Pasadena, California
“Twelve years ago, I introduced Clarke to Wescom Credit Union as a partner in our fixed annuity business. Clarke provides the platform for our business – marketing collateral, documentation, and back office support. Their wholesalers work directly with my producers, attend our meetings, provide product training, help close cases and are extremely well-liked. Clarke, with more than 25 years of industry experience, adds value to our Credit Union.”